Stickman Bangkok packs it in after two decades

[bannork]

11 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

I completely agree with the Father and the other posters reminiscence on Thailand and its current lack of real fun. Yes, I was here in the 60s and every year after that.  The nightlife scene in Thailand and Bangkok in general is now approaching the nightlife scene in America and Europe-  give me the money and then leave me alone-.  The  working girls are bored to death; lack a real Thai smile; and can't even fake an interest except in  one's pocket and how to get it from your hand to theirs.   Then there is the ubiquitous - so called- smart phones in which every word and every action can be documented and sent around the World. One can't even be themselves  lest the whole World know where you are and what you are doing. I threw mine away years ago.

 

I visited Soi Cowboy a few weeks ago not having gone down there for years- I even talked to a few owners I knew and they all indicated that the industries golden years are gone. There are a few old time punters around but with higher prices; lower exchange rates and crackdowns by the police- the fun is not there. they know that at some point Nana , Cowboy and the others will all be gone so they're trying to get as much as they can from the unlucky punters which in turn just drives more people away. There is no place for  Trink or Stickman today because the scene they reported on is in its death throes.

 

If you want to find out what Thailand was like in its heyday- head for Cambodia; Vietnam or even Mongolia.

Ah, you mean sex tourism in its heyday.

[JAG]

https://www.stickmanbangkok.com/weekly-column/2015/04/the-slyest-geezer/

Yes I remember that ...
There will be few years shed in those circles at his going.

Mind you, Stickman rivals Suthep when it comes to "last efforts"...

[CGW]

Not sure why folks feel it necessary to get so deep into what were just columns written for entertainment?

I read Stick from the start up, Trink gave him publicity from day one, did I agree with everything they wrote? No, but it was at times both helpful and entertaining information, just what it was supposed to be!

Personally I will miss reading his musings on the odd occasion - when I have nothing better to entertain myself with

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, gummy said:

Stickman has made enough money from the gullible and socially naïve,  predominantly expats and visitors here in Thailand, that he should just retire gracefully so the world and the fools encapsulated by his bias can forget him.

 

I guess you must have read him though. Otherwise how would you know what the biased content was that you claim fooled the 'gullible and socially naive'.

[SiSePuede419]

I read that crap before coming to Thailand for the first time.  Warped my perception of the Thai people.  That's really only 5-10% of the Thai "culture".

 

The other 90-95% has nothing to do with anything he wrote.  So, an extremely narrow view not "wise" or "experienced" at all.

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The blogger, a man from New Zealand named Nick

 

His name isn't Nick. Where did Coconuts make that up from?

[car720]

3 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

The times they are a changin'.

 

We the lucky few that were here in our 20's through the 80's, 90's and early 00's.

 

Stick, whom I have met several times for a wee drinkie, knows like the rest of us long-term expats, that the gig is up in Thailand. 

 

 

and since '71 I thought I was  the only one who knew it.

[car720]

37 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

I completely agree with the Father and the other posters reminiscence on Thailand and its current lack of real fun. Yes, I was here in the 60s and every year after that.  The nightlife scene in Thailand and Bangkok in general is now approaching the nightlife scene in America and Europe-  give me the money and then leave me alone-.  The  working girls are bored to death; lack a real Thai smile; and can't even fake an interest except in  one's pocket and how to get it from your hand to theirs.   Then there is the ubiquitous - so called- smart phones in which every word and every action can be documented and sent around the World. One can't even be themselves  lest the whole World know where you are and what you are doing. I threw mine away years ago.

 

I visited Soi Cowboy a few weeks ago not having gone down there for years- I even talked to a few owners I knew and they all indicated that the industries golden years are gone. There are a few old time punters around but with higher prices; lower exchange rates and crackdowns by the police- the fun is not there. they know that at some point Nana , Cowboy and the others will all be gone so they're trying to get as much as they can from the unlucky punters which in turn just drives more people away. There is no place for  Trink or Stickman today because the scene they reported on is in its death throes.

 

If you want to find out what Thailand was like in its heyday- head for Cambodia; Vietnam or even Mongolia.

totally agree.  What was once a fun place is now just a sad and dangerous place.

[Thaidream]

No, I do not mean sex tourism- Everyone I know from the era of the 60s who came here did not come for sex tourism- it didn't hardly exist. There was no Soi Cowboy, no Nana Plaza or any of the other areas that catered to the service ladies.  Patpong had a few bars  and there were some more on Phetburi road. 

Pattaya had one Western Hotel and a few bars catering to locals and foreigners. The lure of Thailand was friendly people; great food and a laid back atmosphere where everything was slow and smiles were real.  If you wanted female companionship it was available but most places were not selling it and if money was involved it was an afterthought- not the main reason of life.

 

Fast forward to the commercialization of Thailand and massive tourism which in essence has caused  the rise of the so called sex industry. In actuality- the commercialization of everything is what has taken the fun out of life.Thais while still very accomodating in rural areas and you can find real smiles- others in the tourist areas of Bangkok and Pattaya are merely tools of commercialism and are bored to death with their life.They remind me of zombies not having much to say in any language including their own. Their god has become useless things like facebook and other social media sites . They wouldn't know what a library is or how to read a book other than a comic book.

 They call it progress- but I call it a step back for civilization

[bannork]

11 minutes ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

What other tourism was there 30 years ago?

 

Plenty, and a lot cheaper and less spoilt too. Phra Nang beach Krabi 1987. Joy Bungalows run by Thai guys and a German. 50 -100 baht a night. Now a Dusit resort is there. The only cafe on Ao Nang was the one on the end of the beach run by 3 siblings, was it called The Last Resort? I forget. Krabi was wonderful then. Plenty of chances for snorkeling, diving school were starting up.

Pai was great too, 2 or 3 guesthouses, very friendly locals. Cave Lodge was very popular even back then.

Nong Khai had a couple of fun guesthouses.  

Edited August 23, 2017 by bannork

[Thaidream]

Yes, way too many tourists in Thailand. The country has tourist fatigue and some who engage in the entertainment areas can't hold their alcohol- and became obnoxious; talk filth; and generally are abusive to Thais.  It never used to be this way.... I can't ever remember seeing people like this in the early years. It must be because there were less of them and now mass tourism has brought in not only the good- but the bad and the ugly. Unfortunately, the bad are the ones that ruin it for everyone. 

[bannork]

2 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

Yes, way too many tourists in Thailand. The country has tourist fatigue and some who engage in the entertainment areas can't hold their alcohol- and became obnoxious; talk filth; and generally are abusive to Thais.  It never used to be this way.... I can't ever remember seeing people like this in the early years. It must be because there were less of them and now mass tourism has brought in not only the good- but the bad and the ugly. Unfortunately, the bad are the ones that ruin it for everyone. 

The answer is to avoid tourist areas

[Thaidream]

Even the non tourist areas have been invaded but in smaller numbers and the powers to be want even more.  More and more commercialization - short term thinking with no view of the future or the effect on the environment.

[tomacht8]

3 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Add to the fact that the expat haunts of Soi Cowboy, Patpong and Nana have been turned into neon tourist attractions.

 

Soi 10 gone.

 

Asok Plaza gone.

 

Clinton Plaza gone.

 

Soi Zero gone. 

 

Soi Happyland gone.

 

Washington Square gone.

 

I could probably name dozens more but the fun has been squeezed out of Bangkok now. 

Those were the days.
No stupid closing hours and no smartphones.
Party time 24 hours around the clock.
Had my first room in Yannawa in an apartment house full with Patpong dancers.
There we squeezed the fun.

But you can still have fun in Bangkok, but not in this massive, endless intensity.

[impulse]

1 hour ago, SiSePuede419 said:

I read that crap before coming to Thailand for the first time.  Warped my perception of the Thai people.  That's really only 5-10% of the Thai "culture".

 

The other 90-95% has nothing to do with anything he wrote.  So, an extremely narrow view not "wise" or "experienced" at all.

 

But he wrote about the 5-10% I'd like to avoid, and more importantly, the true nature of a lot of respectable-on-the-outside foreigners, who talk a great game while they're figuring out how to screw their countrymen to the wall.

 

[impulse]

3 hours ago, gummy said:

Stickman has made enough money from the gullible and socially naïve,  predominantly expats and visitors here in Thailand, that he should just retire gracefully so the world and the fools encapsulated by his bias can forget him.

 

 I'm not sure he made a dime off any of us.  I never paid a satang.  He did make a bunch of money from businesses who wanted to advertise to us.  But that's not the same.  They're supposed to know what they're paying for.

 

[gummy]

29 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

 I'm not sure he made a dime off any of us.  I never paid a satang.  He did make a bunch of money from businesses who wanted to advertise to us.  But that's not the same.  They're supposed to know what they're paying for.

 

It is because of "us" he made his money.  If he had no hits from "us" he could not have influenced the businesses to advertise on his site and pay him.  Therefore it is indeed due to "us" that he made his money, lots of it.

[canuckamuck]

I glossed over his site a couple of times. Never saw a single article that I felt like reading. Mostly it looked like a website for escorts and nothing more.

[NCC1701A]

Gosh I have been having so much fun in Thailand the last three years I did not notice that everything has gone to sh*t. Good thing I read the comments on this story so now I know how bad things are.

[Wake Up]

4 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

Add to the fact that the expat haunts of Soi Cowboy, Patpong and Nana have been turned into neon tourist attractions.

 

Soi 10 gone.

 

Asok Plaza gone.

 

Clinton Plaza gone.

 

Soi Zero gone. 

 

Soi Happyland gone.

 

Washington Square gone.

 

I could probably name dozens more but the fun has been squeezed out of Bangkok now. 

Excuse me but I am squeezing a 19 soon to be 20 year old isan beauty tonight for 1500 baht and she squeezes back.  Screw the good ole days as I wasn't getting screwed by the wife back then. 5555

[thaiguzzi]

It all started going tIts up when he started doing Girl of the Week photo shoots. Might have been his taste in wimmin, but certainly not mine. I am not interested in looking at white skinned, colour coded contact lenses and teeth braces on supposed up market coyote/escort girls.

 Show me some original go go bar Isaan girls like in the good 'ole days and I would have  been interested. Dark skin, natural long straight black hair, genuine smile and laugh, great personality.

Not missed his column for a few years now.

[fforest1]

32 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

It all started going tIts up when he started doing Girl of the Week photo shoots. Might have been his taste in wimmin, but certainly not mine. I am not interested in looking at white skinned, colour coded contact lenses and teeth braces on supposed up market coyote/escort girls.

 Show me some original go go bar Isaan girls like in the good 'ole days and I would have  been interested. Dark skin, natural long straight black hair, genuine smile and laugh, great personality.

Not missed his column for a few years now.

I agree 100% Stickman had BAD BAD taste in women...I called the girl of the week the dog of the week...He pulled these girls from Bangkoks top GoGo bars and he could not find better girls??

Hell a blind man could have made better picks I think.....

At first I thought he was just on a bad streak but the unattractive girls of the week went on for years and years....

Edited August 23, 2017 by fforest1

[amvet]

4 hours ago, soalbundy said:

He wrote for people like himself who thought there was nothing else in life except sex, I always felt a little sorry for the old fool

Stickman  was a fun guy until his wife/GF left him then he became just like so many on here who gripe about Thailand and Thai women. 

He would have been OK if all he was interested in was sex unfortunately he bought the story of the beautiful Thai lady in love with the uneducated

low class English speaker. 

[Bangkok Barry]

11 minutes ago, amvet said:

Stickman  was a fun guy until his wife/GF left him then he became just like so many on here who gripe about Thailand and Thai women. 

He would have been OK if all he was interested in was sex unfortunately he bought the story of the beautiful Thai lady in love with the uneducated

low class English speaker. 

Interesting comments from someone who obviously didn't know him or anything about his private life. And still doesn't.

[wakeupplease]

3 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

There is one major difference between then and now and that is the amount of people.

 

There are just too many tourists in Thailand now, you have to try really hard to get off the beaten track. 

 

Back then it was all off the beaten track.

Too many tourists

but fewer and fewer Farangs as as you said the gig is over for them and will not last that long for those who have temporary replaced them.

[expatoz]

Ok An American in Bangkok is better anyway...

Sent from my SM-N910G using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[expatoz]

http://www.anamericaninbangkok.com/

Sent from my SM-N910G using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Skeptic7]

I don't give a hoot! 

[Jeremy50]

8 hours ago, Briggsy said:

You could just reprint any of his old columns from the 80's. Nobody would notice.

 

You could even invent Trink bots to write his column automatically. Burma Shave, TIT, huMAN natURE, Lek at Cowboy 2 is worth a try out, Balloons at Rainbow 3, 1950's New Yorker style............ and repeat the formula.

 

You would have to prime the bots not to repeat his early stuff about underage girls though.

 

Trink's column defined anachronism.

 

(You're not Trink, are you?)

Are you kidding? Bangkok was a completely different city in the 1980's to what it is now. Cheap, dark, and very sleazy, with ANYTHING goes bars, and many more of them, plus many other types of girl venue too. Long time the norm, girls all skinny and no tatts, and polite, the list could just go on about how different it was. Trink certainly never condoned under-age, though it was all apparent  in many places.

 

Stick was OK, but really he missed the wild years IMO. His writing improved over the years, and his pictures were great.

[Briggsy]

1 minute ago, Jeremy50 said:

Are you kidding? Bangkok was a completely different city in the 1980's to what it is now. Cheap, dark, and very sleazy, with ANYTHING goes bars, and many more of them, plus many other types of girl venue too. Long time the norm, girls all skinny and no tatts, and polite, the list could just go on about how different it was. Trink certainly never condoned under-age, though it was all apparent  in many places.

 

Stick was OK, but really he missed the wild years IMO. His writing improved over the years, and his pictures were great.

I think you have misunderstood my post. His style was highly formulaic, forged from the styles of U.S. 50's magazines and never moved on. I was referring to the odd style of writing. So, I don't understand the relevance of your post to mine.

 

I don't know if he condoned under-age, but he certainly informed people about it. You can argue the toss. My point was as the world evolved he had to drop the references.

 

My whole post was about his writing style and to a lesser extent, content.